CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has recommended the filing of a case before the court against a barangay treasurer of Manduyong, Badian for allegedly misappropriating more than P300,000 in government funds.
Graft investigation and prosecution officer I Eileen Mae Lagat-Alde found sufficient ground to charge Apolinaria Ferrolino for malversation of public funds, under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.
“As to the element of misappropriation, this Office finds the same to be present. When demand was made by Commission on Audit (COA) for respondent to account for the unremitted amount of P328,293.84, she failed to do so. Her failure to have duly forthcoming such funds, upon demand, shall be prima facie evidence that she has put such missing funds to personal use,” read the resolution.
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas following its investigation of a letter-complaint filed by barangay captain Francisco Antecristo of Manduyong.
FIO alleged that on October 20, 2011, Ferrolino received a demand letter from the COA informing her that she had an unremitted balance amounting to P328,293.84, as of September 28, 2011.
On April 25, 2012, Ferrolino reportedly wrote a letter to COA admitting that she had unremitted balance under her accountability. She promised to pay P2,000 per month since her property guaranteed for payment was still under negotiation.
Ferrolino, as of November 19, 2013, has an unremitted collection of P295,093.04 after she paid in installment the total amount of P33,200 since October 2011.
On December 10, 2014, Alde directed Ferrolino to file her counter-affidavit to answer the allegations filed against her. Ferrolino, however, failed to comply with the order. (FREEMAN)